Cuomo defends delaying state probe on DA's handling of Weinstein case

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday defended his decision to postpone a state
probe of Manhattan DA Cy Vance’s handling of sexual assault charges
against Harvey Weinstein, saying he didn’t want to interfere with an
ongoing investigation.
In March, Cuomo directed the state attorney general to review why Vance
declined to prosecute Weinstein after a model accused the movie mogul of
sexual assault.

The woman, Ambra Battilana Guitterez, provided authorities with an
incriminating tape of Weinstein apologizing for allegedly groping her
breasts the day before.

But Vance indicted Weinstein in May on rape and other sex crime charges and the case is pending.

“Cy Vance is doing a criminal investigation and you didn’t want to
interfere with that criminal investigation,” Cuomo said before the start
of the West Indian Day Parade.

“It’s an investigation of Vance by the AG that was postponed because you
can’t investigate the DA while he’s doing a criminal investigation of
the same matter. So it was postponed six months,” he added.

Cuomo also denied that a $25,000 campaign contribution from the law firm
of former Weinstein lawyer David Boies on June 20 — six days before he
directed interim AG Barbara Underwood to suspend the probe — had
anything to do with his decision.

Boies and his firm have donated at least $165,000 to Cuomo’s campaigns since 2012.

“First of all, Boies is not representing Weinstein. Second, it has nothing to do with Weinstein,” the governor said.

Boies donated $10,000 to Vance in August 2015 after his office initially
declined to pursue charges against Weinstein in the model’s case.
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